Based in Irvine California, Felt bicycles is a top-tier manufacturer of road, mountain, track, cyclocross, electric bicycles, and cruiser bikes.
Felt’s bikes are designed in the United States and produced in Asia. Felt is a popular brand in triathlon as well as professional cycling, with the brand currently sponsoring USA-based ProTeam Rally Cycling as well as previous Olympic and World Championship riders.
Felt was established by Jim Felt in early 1994, yet struggled to find its feet due to a legal battle with distributors Answer Products. Unfortunately for Felt, the conflict almost crippled the company and they disappeared from the domestic market for over seven years. In 2001, the brand was relaunched as an independent company.
Felt Racing, LLC is a California-based international bike manufacturer.
Felt has advanced various novel bicycle technologies. For its time trial/triathlon bikes, Felt produced the Bayonet Fork, a rather innovative design that utilizes an external steerer in front of the head tube, incorporating additional stiffness and aerodynamic efficiency.
Felt is confident in the aerodynamic designs of its bikes due to the use of wind tunnel technologies and computational fluid dynamic modeling in developing the most aerodynamically efficient frames.
In general, Felt bikes are built for speed, for competitions, and for racers that want to come back home with the gold.
Brief History of Felt Bikes
Felt was founded in 1991 by Jim Felt in Irvine, California. Due to a legal dispute with their distributors Answer Products, they essentially disappeared from the domestic market until 2001, when they were re-launched. After a successful sixteen years, they were acquired by the Rossignol group in 2017, where at the time of the acquisition, the company revenue had reached $60 million, however, further terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Felt Technologies
The company has plenty of technological features to boast about.
Felt’s full-suspension mountain bikes come with the Equilink suspension system-it holds the bike’s pedaling efficiency in any gear combination thus insulating and suspending the rider from rough terrain.
Felt also comes with Bayonet Fork technology for the triathlon/time trial bikes; this technology adds aerodynamic efficiency and stiffness by using an external steerer in the headtube.
Felt Bikes Range
The company offers a wide variety of bike models to pick from. They include cyclocross, road, triathlon, fitness, time-trial, and track. Felt also makes a cycling kit so you can match your bike, as well as spare parts for when your bike needs maintaining or repairing.
1. Road Bikes
AR Aero Road / FR Race Bike / VR Endurance Bike / Verza Speed Fitness Bike
Felt produces several road bikes and they fall into the following categories: Performance, Endurance, and Commuting/Fitness. The Performance bikes are built for racing, with one ‘aero’ bike offering and one lightweight bike, perfect for climbing.
The Endurance bike is a more relaxed fit for the more casual or weekend rider. Perfect for those sportives or gran fondos, it’s lightweight and offers disc brakes for superior stopping power. The Commuting and Fitness bike Felt produce is ideal for just that, commuting in the city or leisure fitness cycling.
Felt’s heritage lies in racing, and that’s why they have such strong connections with professional athletes. There are two bikes in their Performance lineup, the AR Aero Road, and the FR Road Race.
Felt recognize that road bike design changes and are constantly evolving their designs to keep up with the latest technologies in the industry. Whether you want to race on an aerodynamic bike or a more traditional round-tubed bike, Felt have you covered.
Performance Lineup
AR – Aero Road
The AR FRD | Ultimate | Red eTap AXS costs $14,999
Starting at $2,999 for the AR Advanced Frameset, the Felt Aero Road is built for performance.
Whether you’re a road racer or hunting Strava PR’s, this Felt carbon road bike will allow you to focus on the task at hand with a cutting-edge aerodynamic machine. Felt even claim that it is up to 9% faster than their previous iteration of the AR depending on the conditions. Using wind tunnel technologies and industry data, Felt has removed the harsh edges of the previous model and introduced more truncated, squared-off frame designs to better suit the conditions riders are more likely to encounter.
With a frameset costing $2,999, a fully built top-spec AR FRD | Ultimate | RED eTap AXS model costs $14,999 so the bike could be considered an investment, and some. Of course, not all cyclists will require top-of-the-range components, so there are multiple options available at different price points.
Felt AR Size Guide
A 48cm frame will fit riders between 5’0”-5’5” / 152.4 -167.6 cm
A 51cm frame will fit riders between5’5”-5’8” / 167.6 -172.7 cm
A 54cm frame will fit riders between 5’8”-5’10” / 172.7 -177.8 cm
A 56cm frame will fit riders between 5’10”-6’0” / 177.8 -182.8 cm
A 58cm frame will fit riders between 6’0”-6’2” / 182.8 -187.9 cm
A 61cm frame will fit riders between 6’2”-6’5” / 187.9-195.5 cm
FR – Road Race
The FR | Advanced | Ultegra Di2 Road Race Bicycle costs $12,999
The Felt FR Road Race is their lightweight climbing road bike, designed for racers and amateurs alike.
Although aerodynamics have been considered, they’re not the be-all and end-all for this bike, as it’s suited to more undulating courses or hill climbs. Felt claims that in the design process every single aspect and dimension of this bike was honed and tuned by rider feedback and research-driven data, leading to an incredibly stiff frame.
They have both aluminum and carbon frame options for this bike, making it more accessible cost-wise. They also exclusively use disc brakes on these bikes as Felt claims numerous benefits over traditional caliper rim brakes.
Prices start at $2,199 for the FR | 30 model which has an aluminum frame and a Shimano 105 drivetrain. The highest-priced model is the FR FRD | Ultimate | Dura-Ace Di2 which comes with a top-specced drivetrain and carbon frame. Frame colors are depicted by the model, but the options include white/blue, Aquafresh, Glow green, June grey, Eden green, cement, and Matte extreme white/blue.
Felt FR Size Guide
A 43cm frame will fit riders between 144.7 -152.4 cm / 4’9”-5’0”
A 47/48cm frame will fit riders between 152.4 -167.6 cm / 5’0”-5’5”
A 51cm frame will fit riders between 167.6 -172.7 cm / 5’5”-5’8”
A 54cm frame will fit riders between 172.7 -177.8 cm / 5’8”-5’10”
A 56cm frame will fit riders between 177.8 -182.8 cm / 5’10”-6’0”
A 58cm frame will fit riders between 182.8 -187.9 cm / 6’0”-6’2”
A 61cm frame will fit riders between 187.9 -195.5 cm / 6’2”-6’5”
Endurance Lineup
Endurance bikes are typically built with a slightly more relaxed geometry and are aimed at more casual or amateur riders as well as those who spend a long time in the saddle but don’t require the aggressive setup a race bike offers. Felt has one endurance bike in their range, the VR Endurance road bike although they offer several different specifications and model levels in the range.
VR – Endurance
The Felt VR | 40 Endurance Bike costs $1,799
A blend of comfort and performance, the Felt VR Endurance road bike is ideal for Gran Fondos or sportives, as well as the perfect training partner. Those who spend a lot of time in the saddle and don’t require the aggressive setup of a typical race bike should look at the VR Endurance as an option.
Prices start from $1,259 for the VR | 60, an aluminum bike with carbon forks and entry-level components. All the VR Endurance bikes come equipped with disc brakes, although the lower models use mechanical compared to hydraulic at the top of the range. The VR | Advanced | Ultegra Di2 is the most expensive model costing $6,499. It comes with a carbon fiber frame and a Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset.
Fully built it only weighs 7.97kg/17.53lbs. There are several color options but they apply to each model. Options include Coral-Midnight fade, Aqua-Matte textreme, Black Glitter-Matte textreme, Aquafresh, Pewter, and Glow Green.
Felt VR Size Guide
A 43cm frame will fit riders between 4’9”-5’0” / 145 -152 cm
A 47/48cm frame will fit riders between 5’0”-5’5” / 152 -168cm
A 51cm frame will fit riders between 5’5”-5’8” / 168 -173 cm
A 54cm frame will fit riders between 5’8”-5’10” / 173 -178 cm
A 56cm frame will fit riders between 5’10”-6’0” / 178 -183 cm
A 58cm frame will fit riders between 6’0”-6’2” / 183 -188 cm
A 61cm frame will fit riders between 6’2”-6’5” / 188 -196cm
Commuting and fitness
Commuting or fitness bikes typically have a laid-back or relaxed geometry, and flat handlebars. They are perfect bikes for those in cities or who have a shorter commute and are often an ideal introduction to cycling for those not ready to commit to the full-on stretchy clothes and clipless pedals just yet.
Felt USA has just one fitness/commuting bike in their repertoire, the Verza Speed Fitness. You can find Felt bikes for sale across the globe both direct from Felt or a recognized dealer.
Verza Speed Fitness
Felt Verza Speed | 20 in Supernova Black costs $1,249
Felt Bikes USA designed the Verza Speed Fitness bike to be the ultimate comfort experience in cycling while keeping it fun.
With trickle-down technology from their other road-specific bikes, the Verza Speed is a more affordable introduction to road cycling for those who want to begin commuting, or perhaps run errands on their bicycle.
It has flat handlebars helping to keep the rider in a more comfortable upright position, and Felt has made models out of both carbon and aluminum to suit different budgets. Unfortunately, this is the closest bike to a Felt Hybrid bike that the company makes, however, the tire clearance is quite wide, at 35mm max so you could change the tires to more off-road suitable tires if you wish.
Prices start at $649 for the Verza Speed 50 and Verza Speed 50 Med-Step (a step-thru frame) and go up to $1,249 for the Verza Speed 20 which comes with an aluminum frame and carbon forks, and a Shimano Tiagra groupset. As with most Felt bikes, there is a range of colors to choose from depending on the model, including Supernova black, Red, Blue, and more.
Felt Verza Speed Size Guide
A 47/48cm frame will fit riders between 5’0”-5’5” / 152 -168 cm
A 51cm frame will fit riders between 5’5”-5’8” / 168 -173 cm
A 54cm frame will fit riders between 5’8”-5’10” / 173 -178 cm
A 56cm frame will fit riders between 5’10”-6’0” / 178 -183 cm
A 58cm frame will fit riders between 6’0”-6’2” 1823 -188 cm
A 61cm frame will fit riders between 6’2”-6’5″ / 188-196 cm
2. Triathlon and Time Trial Bikes
IA Triathlon Race / B Triathlon Bike / DA TT & Triathlon Frame
Triathlon and Time Trial bikes are built for speed. Often fully equipped with time trial-specific handlebars with armrests and deep-section wheels, these bikes are one of the most expensive types of bikes available, but for good reason.
Lots of research and industry-pooled data goes into the configuration of time trial and triathlon bikes, with time spent in wind tunnels and computational fluid dynamic modeling allowing the development of the most aerodynamically efficient frames. There are two Felt tri bikes, or triathlon bikes, and one triathlon frame.
IA Triathlon Race
Felt IA FRD | Ultimate | Dura-Ace Di2 – FRD costs $16,999
Felt claims that the IA is the culmination of thirty years of development and fine-tuning after developing their first iteration, the Felt B2 for legendary triathlete Paula Newby-Fraser who rode the bike to multiple World Championship wins.
The current model of the IA has a racing pedigree itself, winning the Kona World Championships six times in a row. As the flagship Felt triathlon bikes the IA models come with an expected high price tag for the professional versions. Starting at $2,999 for the IA | Advanced, Rim Brake | 105 models, prices rise to $16,999 for the IA FRD | Ultimate | Dura-Ace Di2, the top of the range carbon fiber model for professionals and racers with deep pockets alike. There are several colors available but as with other Felt bikes, the color denotes the model. The options include Aqua-Geo, Black-Geo, White-Geo, Desert-Geo, Chartreuse-Geo, and more.
Felt IA Triathlon Size Guide
A 48cm frame will fit riders between 152.4 -167.6 cm / 5’0”-5’5”
A 51cm frame will fit riders between 167.6 -172.7 cm / 5’5”-5’8”
A 54cm frame will fit riders between 172.7 -180.3 cm / 5’8”-5’10”
A 56cm frame will fit riders between 180.3 -187.9 cm / 5’11”-6’2”
A 58cm frame will fit riders between 187.9 -195.5 cm / 6’2”-6’5”
B Triathlon Bike
Felt B | Performance | Ultegra in Charcoal costs $2,899
The Felt B Triathlon bike is the second in their triathlon/time trial range. Suited to those who are perhaps newer to the sport or on a tighter budget but still want the aerodynamic gains to be had from having a specialist TT/Tri bike, the B is a great option.
In several Felt bikes reviews, the B triathlon bike was named as being excellent value for money, unlike other Felt bikes, there is only one option and the price is $2,899. For this, you get a carbon fiber frame, an 11-speed Shimano Ultegra groupset, and shallow Devox WheelRRS.A1 wheels.
All this is included on a charcoal colorway and a time trial/triathlon-specific cockpit with base bars and armrests is included.
Felt B Triathlon Size Guide
A 47cm frame will fit riders between 5’0”-5’5” 152.4 -167.6 cm
A 51cm frame will fit riders between 5’5”-5’8” 167.6 -172.7 cm
A 54cm frame will fit riders between 5’8”-5’11” 172.7 -180.3 cm
A 56cm frame will fit riders between5’11”-6’2” 180.3 -187.9 cm
A 58cm frame will fit riders between 6’2”-6’5”187.9 -195.5 cm
A 61cm frame will fit riders between 6’5”+ 195.6 cm+
DA TT & Triathlon Frame
The Felt DA | Ultimate | Frame in Matte Textreme costs $3,999
The Felt DA TT & Triathlon Frame is their UCI legal time trialing frame, which helped the USA win the time trial World Championships in 2019.
Sold only as a frameset, this isn’t the cheapest way of getting into time trial, but if you have a dream build in mind, or perhaps enough components kicking around in the shed, you should consider the Felt DA.
Felt claims the silhouette is built for pure speed and has an integrated bayonet-style fork with rim brake capabilities only. It’s also designed for a BB30 bottom bracket and has adjustable rear drop-outs. Available in only one colorway, Matte textreme (white and charcoal) the price is $3,999 and allows you to completely customize your build.
Felt DA TT Size Guide
A 51cm frame will fit riders between 167.6 -172.7 cm / 5’5”-5’8”
A 54cm frame will fit riders between 172.7 -180.3 cm / 5’8”-5’11”
A 56cm frame will fit riders between 180.3 -187.9 cm / 5’11”-6’2”
A 58cm frame will fit riders between 187.9 -195.5 cm / 6’2”-6’5”
3. Gravel and Adventure Bikes
Breed Gravel / Broam Adventure Bike
Gravel bikes and adventure bikes are similarly designed bikes, usually with drop handlebars (although many new models are arriving with flat handlebars), and clearance for wider than road bike tires.
If you’re purchasing a gravel bike you should expect the bike to come with disc brakes and most come with a one-by drivetrain set up meaning there is only one chainring at the front and a larger cassette at the back to compensate.
Felt makes two bikes in these categories, the Breed Gravel and the Broam Adventure Bike. These Felt gravel bikes will help you explore more on two wheels and are far more capable off-road than regular road bikes, but lighter than mountain bikes so you can ride for longer without getting tired.
Breed Gravel
The Felt Breed Gravel Bike | 20 costs $2,899
The Felt Breed Gravel bike is the company’s race gravel bike. Built for speed on dirt trails, roads, and gravel, the Breed is a bike that’s as at home during a gravel race as it is on a long training ride.
It has dual-wheel compatibility so it can take either 650b or 700c wheels depending on your preference. It comes with 700c wheels as standard and they accommodate tires as wide as 45mm. The 650b wheels have a larger tire clearance, suited for up to 2.1mm widths. As well as being a race bike, it has space for storage, including mounting locations for top tube storage and racks. Prices start from $2,199 for the Breed | 30 model which comes with an aluminum frame and Shimano GRX components. The higher specced model, the Breed | 20 costs $2,899 and comes with a carbon fork and SRAM Force 1 components.
Felt Breed Size Guide
A 47cm frame will fit riders between 152.4 -167.6 cm / 5’0”-5’5”
A 51cm frame will fit riders between 167.6 -172.7 cm / 5’5”-5’8”
A 54cm frame will fit riders between 172.7 -177.8 cm / 5’8”-5’10”
A 56cm frame will fit riders between 177.8 -182.8 cm / 5’10”-6’0”
A 58cm frame will fit riders between 182.8 -187.9 cm / 6’0”-6’2”
A 61cm frame will fit riders between 187.9 cm -195.5cm / 6’2”-6’5″
Felt Broam Adventure Bike
The Felt Broam | 60 Adventure Bike costs $1,249
The Broam is Felt’s adventure bike. For those getting into gravel, or perhaps wanting a reliable touring bike with luggage capacity for those longer trips you want to take.
This bike will have you taking the lesser beaten path with its dual-wheel compatibility and subsequent wide tire clearances. It includes mounting points for storage on the top tube, and points for racks and fenders so you can be sure you’ll have enough room to carry all your required luggage.
Prices start at $1,249 for the Broam | 60 which includes an aluminum frame and Shimano Claris components. The Broam | 30 is Felt’s most expensive model at $2,199 and it comes with a carbon fork and Shimano GRX components. The bike comes in several colors depending on the model. These include midnight blue/fade, sage mist, duck egg, and black.
Felt Broam Size Guide
A 47cm frame will fit riders between 152.4 -167.6 cm / 5’0”-5’5”
A 51cm frame will fit riders between 167.6 -172.7 cm / 5’5”-5’8”
A 54cm frame will fit riders between 172.7 -177.8 cm / 5’8”-5’10”
A 56cm frame will fit riders between 177.8 -182.8 cm / 5’10”-6’0”
A 58cm frame will fit riders between 182.8 -187.9 cm / 6’0”-6’2”
A 61cm frame will fit riders between 187.9 cm -195.5cm / 6’2”-6’5″
4. Cyclocross Bikes
FX Cyclocross Bike
Cyclocross bikes belong in the mud, the grass, and the sand. Cyclocross races demand a full gas attempt from the get-go for roughly sixty minutes, so you need a bike that is lightweight and responsive no matter the conditions.
Cyclocross bikes have drop handlebars and a one-by drivetrain, and now mostly come with disc brakes compared to the older caliper style brakes. Felt only makes one bike in this range, the FX Cyclocross bike, but they promise it’s a race machine that’s had proven results.
FX Cyclocross
FX | Advanced+ | Force CX1 costs $4,499
The FX Cyclocross bike has proven race pedigree in the men’s elite divisions. It’s won back-to-back rainbow jerseys and is a lightweight and robust bike built for racing.
Felt asserts that the bike has cyclocross-specific details in the frame, with an aggressive head and seat angle, along with short chainstays to make it nimble and agile. The large front triangle makes it easy to pick up on your shoulder for those off-the-bike carrying moments in a race, and it can accept up to 34mm tires as per ISO regulations, so it’s ready to race off the rack.
Prices start at $1,999 for the FX | Advanced+ | Frame and rise to $4,499 for the top-of-the-line FX | Advanced+ | Force CX1 model, which comes equipped with Zipp wheels and high-end SRAM components.
Size Guide
A 47cm frame will fit riders between 152.4 -167.6 cm / 5’0”-5’5”
A 50cm frame will fit riders between 167.6 -172.7 cm / 5’5”-5’8”
A 53cm frame will fit riders between 172.7 -177.8 cm / 5’8”-5’10”
A 55cm frame will fit riders between 177.8 -182.8 cm / 5’10”-6’0”
A 57cm frame will fit riders between 182.8 -187.9 cm / 6’0”-6’2”
A 60cm frame will fit riders between 187.9 cm -195.5cm / 6’2”-6’5″
5. Track Bikes
TA FRD Track / TK FRD Track
Track bikes are simple bikes, with a single gear, and no brakes.
Designed exclusively for chasing times on the boards, track bikes are not suitable for regular road riding and are often incredibly aerodynamic, as every millisecond counts in the velodrome.
Felt make two bikes, one pursuit style bike, the TA FRD Track, and one mass start/endurance bike, the TKFRD track. Track bikes are often expensive due to the technology and research and development that goes into making and designing them, but if you’re looking to learn to ride on the boards, you’ll need to bite the bullet.
Pursuit Style – TA FRD Track
The TA FRD Track is Felt’s Pursuit Style track bike. It was developed with help from the USA Women’s Team Pursuit squad, which won the World Championships on it.
The company claims it is the fastest bike to ever hit the boards, and the results at the International level reflect that. However, its cost is extremely off-putting and only the highest-paid athletes will be able to afford it, at $25,999.
Due to its unique configuration for each rider, the bike is put together by specialists and assembled by special order before shipping. It may be one of if not the most aerodynamic track bikes in the world, but its hefty price tag will put people off.
Size Guide
Due to the unique configuration of the bike, there are no specific sizes. If you are interested in purchasing one of these bikes, contact Felt and they will assess what size bike you require and build it to your specifications.
Mass Start and Endurance – TK FRD Track
TK FRD TRACK FRAME costs $5,499
For all the other events in the velodrome, there is the TK FRD Track bike.
Designed to be raced by those in the mass start and endurance races, the geometry is honed specifically for these events, i.e. long and low for aerodynamic purposes as well as comfort over the longer distanced races.
Importantly, it’s UCI legal so it’s race-ready straight from the dealer. Felt claims that the bike frame material is their most advanced carbon fiber layup to be used on a mass start bike, with an ultra-stiff surface making sure no watt is wasted when riders put the power down.
The TK FRD is only available as a frame and costs $5,499.
Felt Mass Start Size Guide
A 51cm frame will fit riders between 160.0 -167.6 cm / 5’3”-5’5”
A 55cm frame will fit riders between 167.6 -175.2 cm / 5’5”-5’9”
A 48cm frame will fit riders between 175.2 -180.3 cm / 5’9”-5’11”
A 60cm frame will fit riders between 180.3 -187.9 cm / 5’11”-6’2”
Assembly
The company gets most of its production from Asia and all designs are assembled in the USA.
Felt operates a click and collect service whereby you purchase the bike online, and they ship it to a recognized dealer where they will assemble it for you for free, ready for you to collect. They also offer a suggested timeline so you can be sure how long it will take from purchase to the collection.
Sponsorships
Felt has been part of the WorldTour for a number of years. Currently, they sponsor ProTeam Rally Cycling from the USA, which uses their AR Aero Road bikes. The company has also sponsored teams such as Team Twenty 16 and Hincapie Racing.
The American company has also sponsored many individual professionals such as triathlete Daniela Ryf – the 2015 and 2016 Ironman World Champion, Sarah Kathryn Hammer – a specialist in track racing who won eight World Championships, and Olympic silver medals.
They also sponsored the 2007 Ironman 70.3 World Champion Mirinda Carfrae and American triathlete Tim DeBoom who won the Ironman Triathlon World Championships in 2001 and 2002.
In the mid to late 2000s Felt sponsored several professional cycling teams including Slipstream-Chipotle in 2007, Garmin-Slipstream in 2009, and Hincapie Sportswear Development Team in 2014.
In 2013 star sprinter Marcel Kittel won four stages of the Tour de France on a Felt bike as part of the Argos-Shimano sponsored team.
Little Known Facts About the Company
Motocross star Johnny O’Mara planted the idea of a bike company in Jim Felt’s head after asking for a personalized time trial bike, in the late 1980s. O’Mara competed in triathlons as part of his preparations for motocross and realized none of the bikes on the market suited him.
Jim Felt, a seasoned mechanic and a serious age-group triathlon competitor himself took up the challenge and focused his energy on maximizing aerodynamic efficiency by optimizing the rider position on the bike.
These improvements produced immediate results and Johnny’s wins were all the evidence Felt needed to realize that he had come up with a great product. By 1991, Felt was in the bike manufacturing business, making bikes mainly to suit the various needs of the top athletes.
The company expanded after ten years with the entry of new investors. This has helped it grow into a global brand, with a loyal international customer base.
Although they previously offered Felt mountain bikes, the company no longer makes them. They have also not tapped into a burgeoning new market with a Felt electric bike yet, so there is plenty of opportunity for growth for the USA-based company.
